Attitydbeteendeklyfta

Attitydbeteendeklyfta, or the attitude–behavior gap, refers to the commonly observed difference between what people say they value, believe, or intend to do and what they actually do in real situations. The term is used across social psychology, consumer research, health psychology, and environmental studies to describe a persistent discrepancy between attitudes and actions.

Several factors contribute to the gap. Measurement issues can exaggerate it when attitudes are assessed as general beliefs rather than specific behavioral intentions. Social desirability bias can lead respondents to report favorable attitudes that do not translate into action. Situational constraints, such as time, money, or access, can limit the translation of intentions into behavior. Habits, routines, and perceived control also play roles, as people may intend to act one way but default to established patterns in practice.

The gap is particularly studied in areas like environmental behavior, health behavior, and political participation. For example, individuals may express strong concern for the environment but recycle inconsistently, or advocate healthy eating while rarely following through. This inconsistency can hinder efforts to change behavior at individual or societal levels.

Research on bridging the gap emphasizes strategies such as forming concrete implementation intentions (if-then plans), reducing practical barriers, leveraging social norms and feedback, and designing environments that cue desired actions. Theoretical models like the Theory of Planned Behavior acknowledge attitudes as one input to intentions but recognize that behavior is shaped by multiple factors, including perceived control and norms, which helps explain why the attitude–behavior link is not perfect.